"Sex robots" revisited

Abstract

In this article, we revisit the call for a ban of robots used for sex, as introduced by Kathleen Richardson, director of the Campaign Against Sex Robots, during Ethicomp 2015. This campaign provides a case against the production, sale and use of "sex robots". To support its main claims, the materials made available by the campaign present arguments that are built on a number of specific premises, definitions and assumptions, which this paper outlines and discusses. It aims to test these premises for internal validity and logical coherence as well as to provide alternative viewpoints leading to opposing conclusions.